Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Cuerna costalis (Fabricius)
Orig. Comb: Cercopis costalis Fabricius, 1803
Identification
Black and red with longitudinal stripes on forewing; a conspicuous white stripe runs from the eye along the side of the abdomen; tip of abdomen with red spot.
The only species in the genus with red on legs,
per Andy Hamilton.
Dets. M. A. Quinn, 2017
Range
e US to NM (NM-FL-NY-NE), Ont. / ne. Mex.
(1)(2)(BG data)
Season
yr round in the south (BG data)
Food
Asteraceae: Ambrosia artemisiifolia (ragweed), Amphiachyris sp., Dahlia sp. (dahlia), Helianthus petiolaris, Helianthus sp. (sunflower);
Bignoniaceae: Campsis radicans (trumpet creeper); Brassicaceae: Brassica rapa (turnip); Chenopodiaceae: Beta vulgaris (beet);
Fabaceae: Albizia julibrissin (silktree), Arachis hypogaea (peanut), Cassia occidentalis (coffeeweed), Cassia tora, Cercis sp. (redbud), Lespedeza sp. (lespedeza), Lupinus angustifolius (blue lupine), Pisum sativum var. (Austrian pea), Pisum sativum (garden pea), Vigna sinensis (cowpea);
Lythraceae: Lagerstroemia indica (crapemyrtle);
Malvaceae: Gossypium herbaceum (cotton), Hibiscus esculentus (okra);
Oleaceae: Ligustrum sp. (privet); Onagraceae: Oenothera biennis (evening primrose);
Phytolaccaceae: Phytolacca americana (pokeweed);
Poaceae: Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass), Digitaria sanguinalis (crab grass), Lolium multiflorum (rye grass), Panicum texanum (Texas millet), Setaria viridis (green bristlegrass), Sorghum halepense (Johnson grass), Triticum aestivum (wheat), Zea mays (corn);
Polygonaceae: Rumex sp. (dock);
Rosaceae: Fragaria ananassa (strawberry), Prunus angustifolia (chickasaw plum), Prunus persica (peach);
Vitaceae: Vitis sp. (grapevine).
(1)
Asclepiadaceae: Asclepias viridis (green milkweed) (BG data)
Life Cycle
normally two generations per year; overwinters as an adult under matted grass in fields
See Also
C. striata is virtually identical except for the lack of red on the tip of the abdomen, and has a more northern distribution (n. US & Canada)
Print References
Hamilton, K.G.A. 1970. The genus Cuerna (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) in Canada. Canadian Entomologist 102: 425-441. (description).
Nielson, M.W. 1965. A revision of the genus Cuerna (Homoptera, Cicadellidae). Technical Bulletin of the United States Department of Agriculture 1318: 1-48. (description, hosts).
Internet References
video: nymph anointing itself with liquid secretion
